Member Spotlight: Highland Rim Crossfit

Why did you start doing CrossFit? 

Honestly, I was a skeptic. I did not know much about it, and I was only used to "traditional" training. A friend of mine got me into it, and I had lots of questions. I had always been in athletics, but this type of training was new to me. I was ready for a change. I was ready for a new challenge. CrossFit did exactly that. The mixture of gymnastics movements, weight training, and cardiovascular training gave me results that I could not achieve otherwise. 

 

What exactly is CrossFit?

And is it for everyone or should you be very athletic if you want to start? 

CrossFit is multi-faceted. It is a lifestyle, a training method, and a community that drives you to better health and wellness. First, without proper nutrition, you may never achieve goals of weight loss, getting off certain medications, or generally improve your health.  In other words, you cannot out-train a bad diet. CrossFit gives people the tools to understand proper eating habits, portion sizes, how to track nutrition, and how to eat for performance. Second, the workouts that coaches program are functional movements (movements we perform in our daily life) designed to fit any person at any level of fitness. It is not uncommon to see a very strong athlete train next to someone in his or her 50s or 60s or who is just starting out. That is because CrossFit can be scaled for all fitness levels. It is not necessary to be fit to walk in and get started. That is a common misconception. Every day is a different training day, so one will not get bored with the routine. Third, and perhaps most importantly, CrossFit is a community of people that surround you with love, support, and accountability, unlike any other program. This community is why people stay. I hear people say all the time that they haven't stuck with any type of workout. When one is surrounded by like-minded people who will pick you up when you're down or will give you a kick in the pants when you need that, you stick with the program.
 

Why do you think CrossFit is so popular?

On top of the things I mentioned above, CrossFit is the closest thing to sports that people may have played as a younger person. It can be competitive. Many people like that aspect. It produces results quickly if combined with proper nutrition. In addition, people get excited about seeing what their bodies can accomplish when a new task is placed in front of them.

 

Do you have any advice or tips for anyone who is thinking about starting CrossFit? 

Like any fitness regimen, make sure you are cleared by a doctor before beginning. Talk to a coach about your goals, and see if the place aligns with those goals. Try a free class and ask a friend to join you. In many cases, if friends, spouses, or significant others start training together, they are more likely to stick to it.

 

What are your favorite CrossFit exercises? 

By far, my favorite movements are deadlifts and burpees. Like many CrossFit movements, the deadlift is functional and is a movement we do every day in the real world. Burpees are hard but are the perfect full-body cardiovascular movement. No equipment is needed, and you can do them anywhere.